Sheet folding machine



Nov. 28, I195 Filed March 16, 1946 G. S. BERMAN SHEET FOLDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Gusm v5 5. BER/WAN ATTORNEX Nov. 28, 31950 G. s. BERMAN SHEET FOLDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1946 INVEN TOR. 60 5 TA 1/55. 55mm WfiwZz Z A T TOANEX Nov. 28, 11956 G. s. BERMAN SHEET FOLDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 16, 1946 INVENTOR. 6V57A v: .5. BER/WAN $6M a W A T TORNEX Nov. 28, 1950 G. S. BERMAN SHEET FOLDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet s I Q'- 12 M i 14 I I 46 l l I ll: 49 li 57 O 47 J6 g! l 5.6

/ a0 .91 91 61 61 I I 62 Z i 3 63 Q 7 E?! m m 5 INVENTOR. 83 \ll "I 61 79 STAVEiBERMAN hi1 MM A TTOR/VEX Nov 28, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 L I I I I i L 12 /a I a Q. W y- 6 -49 W 7 INVENTOR. G05 7'4 1/55. BER/WAN A TTOR/VEX Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a sheet folding ma-.

chine, and more particularly to a machine for folding pliable sheet materials such as blanks of paper, paper-board, fibre, or plastic, to form the shields or covers of umbrellas and parasols. The principal objects of this invention are to manufacture umbrella and parasol shields quickly, efficiently and cheaply.

Another object is a machine for rapidly and effectively pleating blanks of sheet material, thus converting them without spoilage into umbrella and parasol shields.

Other objects will appear from the detailed description which follows. I

In accordance with this invention the stock out in the form of a centrally holed circular sheet or shield blank is centered and then clamped between the upper and lower members of a forming die by which the blank is manipulated against the radially corrugated surface of a conical male die element, is then pressed against said corrugated surface under substantial pressure, in the presence where necessary, of applied heat, until theblank is effectively pleated to form a shield, which is then released and removed from the corrugated surface of the male die.

In the drawings comprising six sheets of seven figures numbered Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, one suggested embodiment of the invention is illustrated. c

Fig. 1 is a front view of a press embodying the invention. a

Fig. 2 is a side view of the. press of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the die mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a side view partly in section showing the die mechanism open with the blank in feeding position;

Fig. 5 is a side view partly in section showing the blank clamped between the die members;

Fig. 6 is a side view partly in cross section showing the relative positions of the several parts of the die mechanism after the blank has been effectively pleated ..to form the shield; and

Fig. '7 is ahorizontal sectional .view of a fragment of the forming die only taken along the line 1--1 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. V

For convenience in understanding the invention and its mode of operation, the die mechanism which includes the upper die 50, the lower die 60 and the forming'die Ill (Figs. 1 and 2) tion by the set screw 93.

power press 10 may be used for operating the die.

The power press It] may be hydraulically operated. It may consist of a suitable frame H supporting a cylinder I2 mounted thereon in any suitable manner. A piston 13 mounted for slid-v ing movement within the cylinder I2, is mechanically coupled to a ram l4 adapted to rise and fall with the piston l3. The ram I4 is made of tubular construction to receive a rod 41, which is mounted for axial telescopic movement relative to the ram. The piston l3 may also be made hollow to receive the upper end of rod 41.

To effect the telescopic action the ram I4 is provided with a slotted keyway 48 (Fig. 6) for receiving the stud 49 of the rod 41. The limits of the telescopic action between the ram l4 and. the rod M are determined by the length and position of the slotted keyway 48 and the location of the stud 49.

The rod 4'! protrudes beyond the lower end of ram [4 for a substantial distance. At its lower extremity the rod 41 carries a collar 53 forming the lower hub of the upper die 50. A collar 51 which is mounted for axial sliding movement upon the rod 41, constitutes the upper hub of the upper die 50. A coiled spring 58 is mounted upon the rod 4! between the upper hub 51 and an adjustable collar 92 which is locked in posi- Spring 58 normally tends to separate the hubs 5'! and 53, to retain the triangular shaped irons 5| carried by the links 55 in a horizontal position, substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5.

The piston I3 is hydraulically actuated under control of a four-way valve l5 which is connected to the opposite ends of the chamber of the cylinder [2 by means of feed pipes l6 and IT, and to the hydraulic system by means of the sump pipe I1 and pressure pipe I9.

. valve.

will be described separately from the operating mechanism therefor. A' manually controlled The four-way valve l5 may be of any conventional type. In one position of the valve, the pressure pipe i9 is connected with the feed pipe 11, and the sump pipe l8 with the feed pipe I6, while in the other position of the valve the connections are reversed thus connecting the pressure pipe I9 with the feed pipe l6, and the sump pipe IS with the feed pipe ll. The fourway valve l5 may be either a rotary or a slide As shown in the drawings the valve I5 is provided with a slide valve 26 adapted to be operated by a link and lever system under control of the foot pedal 40, as hereinafter more fully described.

The hydraulic system for actuating the piston l3 includes a sump tank 25 containing a suit- 3 able fiuid 44 located in the sump 24 in the base of the frame II. The hydraulic pump 22 draws the fluid 44 from the sump tank 25 by way of supply pipe 23, and pumps the fluid under pres sure into pressure pipe H). The pump 22 may be coupled to any suitable prime mover such as the electric motor 46 (Fig. 1).

The hydraulic system may be provided with a suitable pressure gauge connected to the delivery side of the pump 22 under control of a suitable shut-off valve 21.

One end of a treadle M is pivotally mounted at 42 to a post 43 while the opposite end terminates in a pedal 40. The treadle is provided with a suitable system of levers for "operating the slide valve 26 of the four-way valve l5. This lever system may consist of a connecting rod 31 interconnecting the ti'eadl'e "M and the lever arm 33, and another connecting rod 31 interconnecting the lever arm 33 and the lever arm 2 1 which controls the operation of the slide valve of the four-way valve I5. I

The lever arms 2'! and 33 are i'pivotally mounted at 28 and 34 respectively to the frame H of the press it}. The pins 35 and 39 connect the upper and lower holed heads 36 and 38 of connecting rod 31 to the lever arm 33 and needle ii respectively. The Connecting rod 3| which forms 'a link between the lever arms 21 and 33 is Slidably supported in the holed brackets 30 and 32 which form a part of the press fr'ar'ne H. A suitable coiled spring 58 controls the return to "normal movement of the system of levers including connecting rod 3!. The tension of spring 83 is controlled by anadjustable collar 86 whichcan be looked upon the rod 3! byja set screw '81. v p

The throw of the lever arms 2'! and 33 and of the 'treadle 4| may be regulated in any suitable manner as by means of a split collar '29 adjustmy inountedupon the connecting rod 3|, and by the lower holed had38 which is threaded upon the connecting rod 37 to facilitate changes of rod length.

The amount of pressure generated by the pump '22 will depend among otherthin'gs upon trfe capacity or the ump and thespeed or retation of the electric motor 45. The link and lever system is so "arrange with respect to the foenway valve i5, that when foot pressure is applied to the pedal 40 of treadle 'fil pressure pipe |9 is connected to feed pipe [6 to "drive piston T3 to the lower end of cylinder l2 causing the ram i4 to descend; and 'tvhen foot pressure is removed from the pedal thefioressu're pipe i3 is connected to the -fee'd pip'e I! forcin the piston 13 upwards in the cylinder 12 "thus raising the ram I i. H

The die mechanismincludes the upper die 50, the lower die and the conical inale die 19.

The upper die 55, includes a seriesdf'radially projecting pressing irons '51 Each pressing iron 5] is atriangular pyramid having its apex lpivotally'connected at 52 to the lower hub 53. Each pyramidal pressing -iron 5! also conforms in "vertical cross section to an inverted triangl'e, t'o permitits inverted V shaped lateral races '89 and 90 to seat against the lateral faces 12 and 13 constituting one of the tapered corrugations of the star Shaped conical mare die 10.

Ea'ch pres'sing iron 5| is also supported by an angular link 55, which has one end pivotally connected at 54, to the pressing iron 5!, and its other end pivotally connected at 58 -to-the upper hub 51. The hub 5'! is axially slidable alongthe 4 rod 41 to swing the pressing irons 5l5l in unison about the lower hub 53 to simulate the general mechanical movement of the rib-stays of an umbrella. The spring 58 tends to separate the hubs 53 and 51, and normally tends to retain the pressing irons 5l-5l in a horizontal position substantially as shown in Fig. 4. The tension of spring 58 is regulated by means of an adjustable collar 92 which is locked by a set screw 93. When the hub 51 is moved axially upon the rod "41 towards the hub 53, the links 5555 move about their pivotal connections 56 and 54 to force the pressing irons 5|5l out wards towards the shaft 61 of the male die 10 until their lateral faces 89-430 register with the lateral faces 1'2l3 which form the fluted corrugations of the star shaped male die 13.

The lower die 60 consists of a series of radially disposed carrying and forming arms 5!, each pivotally connected at 2 to the head of the shaft 61, The upper face of each arm l'il is beveu'ee to form a peak or 'apex 9|. A series of links 64-'6 are 'pivotally connected at 63- 63 to the carrier arms 6l6l and at 65E5 to a h'ubBB which is mounted upon the shaft 61 for anai sliding I movement relative thereto, A spiral spring 68 is mounted upon the shaft '61 and "normally tends to force 'the hu b '56 upwards towards the head of the shaft '51, thus normally maintaining the carrier arms 6| in a horizontal (o en) position substantially as s own in Fig. 4.

'The forming die 10 is a radially fluted gone. The fiutings consist of aseries of pairs of reentrant lateral faces 12+13 defining ridges with V-shaped valleys l4 therebetween forming a star shaped cone. A [series 'of vertically disposed slots I'l -fl] are formed in the ridges of the cone, to afford free passage for the carrier arms 61 6}. The clearance between the carrier arms 51:61 and the walls of the slots 'H--'-f|l is such that the a ms ii-:61 substantially close their rGSPectiVesIdts 1| so that their respective peaks 91 form the ridges of thestar'shape'd'cone.

The male die 10 may be anchored to 'a base plate 16 by means er dowel pins ?1. The base plate 15 is adapted'to be anchored to'theworking table 45 of the'presj's I0 any suitable manner as by means for a e bolts 15--15'passipg t roug the earsa z- -sa. The male die 70 is star shaped in horizontal cross section, the iate'raI faces 12 and 13 between the points 'ofthe star defining a reentrant angle forming a V shaped flutingha'ving a vertex 14. Each pair "of "lateral faces 12 and san their 'vert'ex 14 in conjunction, form a seat for the lateral faces '89 and 90 of one of the triangular yramidal pressing iiOXlS 51"0f the upper die 53. Each ridge formed by the merger of adjacent lateral faces 12 and 13 slotted at H to afford 'fr'e passage for one of the carrier arms '61 ana its assoc ated link 64 "of the lower the 60. c. The ap'ei: or the conical'r'h'ale "die Hi is provided an "opening a aptedtere'cive :the pper end off theshaft "61, which "is suitabiy finished as as by bevelling 'tb'fdr'iii 'a'centering'device 6'9 rum-s ewi g the dpe'n'iii'g "in the center of the shield blank 80, 'v'vherebythe blank may be placed in correct registry with the die mechanism preparatory to initiating the pleating "6D- eration. The height of thesh'aft BTwith respect to the conical die 1 0 may be regulated by means of the collar 8; 'and its set-screw 8 2.

Suitable heating elements 84 may be located within the iorming ar To for heating t e die to increaseit ipressing efliciency. The heating elements 84 may be of preferred "typ'e'such Principle of operation The die mechanism 50, 60 and having been properly installed in'the press ID,- a shield blank 80 of the desired pliable sheet material i inserted between the upper die 5|! and the lower die 60 so that the central opening in theblank 80 registers with the centering device 69 of male forming die ill. The blank 8|] is supported upon the carrier arms 6| of lower die 60, substantially as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

When the operator applies foot pressure to the pedal 4|] the treadle is depressed and actuates the slide valve 26 through the system of levers including the lever arms 33 and 21 and the conv necting rods 3? and 3|; The slide valve 26 moves into position to connect the pressure pipe I!) to the feed pipe l6, and the feed pipe I! to the sump pipe l8. a

The hydraulic pressure applied to the chamber I2 forces the piston l3 and ram M to descend. The ram M in descending moves the shaft and upper die 5|! downwards until the lower hub 53 of shaft 41 registers with the cone shaped head of the centering device 69 of the shaft 61, which arrests the further downward movement of the rod M. The lateral faces 89 and 9B of the pressing irons 5| engage the surface of the blank 80, so that the blank is now securely held between the forming ridges 9| of the carrierarms'fil of lower die 60 and the pressing irons 5| of upper die 50, substantially as shown in Fig. 5.

The continued descent of the piston l3 and of the ram l4, causes the stud 49 of the rod 41 to rise in the slotted keyway 48 of ram l4, thus telescoping the ram l4 upon the rod 41 and sliding the upper hub 5'5 of upper die 50 axially down- Wards upon the Tod 47 against the increased l. nism ultimately returns to the normal position sion of the coiled spring 58.

The downward movement of the hub 51 causes the links 5555 to turn upon the pivotal connections 56-56 of hub ,5! and upon the pivotal connections 5454 of the pressing irons 5|-5|,

thus turning the pressing irons Ell-5' about the pivotal connections 5252 of the lower hub 53, and causing the pressing irons to swing downwards as indicated generally in Fig. 6.

The downward swinging movement of the pressing irons 5|-5| of upper die 50 applies increased pressure to the surface of the blank 80. This pressure is transmitted by the blankflil to the carriers 6|--|5| which swing about their pivotal connections 62-62 thus forcing their associated links 64-454 to move the hub 66 downwards upon the shaft 61 against the increasing tension of the coiled spring 68. The coiled spring 68 is a relatively lightly tensioned spring, and will yield to the force exerted by the pressing irons 5|--5| through the blank 80, thus preventing the ridges 9| of the carrier arms 6| frominjuring the sheet material of which the blank 80 is made.

The carrier arms 6| continue to swing downwards towards the shaft 61 through the slots 1 in the ridges or vertices of the star shaped male die H! until the lateral faces 89 and 90 of the pressing irons 5|-5| force the sheet material of the blank 8|] into the fluted valleys 14- 14 and against the formin ridges 9| of the carrier arms 6| which now form a continuation of the lateral faces 12-13 of the star shaped male die 10, substantially as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

The pressure exerted upon the blank by the lateral faces 89 and 90 of the pressing irons 5|--5| acting against the lateral faces 12 and 13 of the male die, effect a pleating action upon the blank 80 which is permanently creased radially along the lines delineated by the forming ridges 9| which now in effect form a part of the male die 10 and reversely permanently creased radially along the lines delineated by the inverted ridges formed by the lateral faces 89 and 90 of the pressing irons 5|5|. I

When foot pressure is removed from the pedal 4|] the slide valve 26 is moved into position to connect pressure pipe l9 with feed pipe H and to bleed feed pipe l6 over sump pipe I8 to sump tank 25. Piston |3 now moves upwards expelling the fluid 44 from the upper end of chamber l2 by way of feed pipe l6 and sump pipe I8 to sump tank 25.

The upward axial movement of piston l3 and ram |5 relative to the rod 4? releases the coiled spring 58 which in turn forces the upper hub 51 of upper die 50 away from its lower hub 53. The upward axial movement of upper hub 51 draws the links 55--55 upwards, thus causing the pressing irons 5|5| to swing upwards and disengage the blank 80. As the pressing irons 5 |5| disengage the blank 80 the coiled spring. 68 of.

lower die 66 forces the hub 66 upwards along the shaft 61 thus causing the links B4-64 to restore the carrying arms 8|-B| to their normal position. The. upward movement of the carrying arms 6|-6| lifts the pleated blank 80 off the male die Til.

The ram l4 continues its upward movement until the stud 49 reaches the bottom of the keyway 48, whereupon the continued upward movement of the piston l3 and ram |4 ,disengages the shaft 41 from the shaft 61 and the die mechasubstantially as shown in Fig. 4 of the'drawings. The completed, blank 80 disengages the center ing device 69 and may be removed from the press.

A new blank 80 may now be inserted between the upper and lower dies 5|! and 60 in correct registry with the centering device 69, and the cycle of operations repeated.

What is claimed is:

l. A die for a sheet folding machine including a ridged and fluted cone comprising a star shaped member, each ridge having a slot formed therein extending from the ridge peak radially inwards towards the center of the cone, carrying and forming arms mounted to swing in said slots, a support, and a series of pressing irons carried by said support and operable relative thereto to engage the fluted surface of the cone.

2. A sheet folding machine including a die therefore, said die comprising a star shaped cone, means adapted to effect correct registry between a sheet and said cone, said cone having a series of radially spaced pairs of laterally reentrant substantially triangular faces defining ridges and flutings, each of said ridges having a vertically disposed slot formed therein and extending from the apex towards the base of the cone, means slidably mounted in said slots for yieldably supporting a sheet in folding position, a shaft mounted for axial movement towards and away from the cone, a series of pressing irons s'eatable in the flutings of said cone, and means for pivotally supporting the pressing irons upon the shaft to effect simultaneous movement thereof into and out of registry with said flutings.

aceaasc =3. In an umbrella shield folding machine, a conical die member, means adapted .to effect correct registry between ashield blank and said die. said cone having a series of regularly spaced pairs of laterally reentrant substantially triangular faces defining .flutings with ridges therebetween, each of the said ridges having a vertically disposed slot formed therein and extending from the apex towards the base of the come, a series of fold defining arms registering with sa-id slots for yieldably supporting a shield b'lan'k in position preparatory to folding,a-shaftmounted for axial movement towards and way from the die, a series of pressing irons seatable in the fiutings of said die, said pressing irons being pivotallysupported upon said shaft .for simultaneous movement into and out of registry with said flutings, and means for imparting axial movement to said shaft and for seating said pressing irons in said flut'i-ngs to effect pleating of a shield blank clamped therebetween to produce a pleated umbrella shield.

4. A die member for a sheet folding machine comprising a cone shaped die member, means adapted to effect correct registry between a sheet and said die member, a series of regularly spaced pairs of laterally reentrant substantially triangular faces formed in the surface of said cone to define a corrugated seat for a second and complementary die member, a shaft mounted .in coaxial alignment with said come, a complementary die member comprising a series of pressing irons spaced to register with said corrugated seat, said pressing irons being pivotally supported on said shaft for movement into and out of registry with said seat, and means for effecting simultaneous movement of said pressing irons relative 170 said corrugated seat.

-5. 'A die for as'heet foldingenach'ine comprising a cone shaped die member, means adapted to effect correct registry between a sheet and said die member, a series of regularly spaced pairs of lat- 'erally 'reentrant substantially triangular faces formed in the surface of said cone defining flutings with ridges therebetween, each of said ridges having a slot formed therein extending along the peak of the ridge radially inwards towards the center of the done, a shaft mounted fin .co-axia'l alignment'with "said cone,-'aseries of sheet-carrier arms one for each of said slots, each carrier farm having its upper edge face bevelled to form the peakofpn'e'o'f the ridges *of said 'c'one,said carrier arms being pivotally mounted upon said 'sha'ft'in alignment with said slots, 'and said carrier 'arms being yieldable about said pivots when folding pressure isapplied to a sheet supported upon said arms to bring their upper edge face bevels into position to form the peaks of said ridges during sheet folding operation.

6. A die :for a sheet folding machine comprising a :conical male die member, the apex of the conical male die-member being adapted to center a sheet in position to be folded by said die, said male die-member having a series of regularly spaced pairs of laterally reentrant substantially triangular faces defining :flutings with ridges therebetween, a shaft-supported above the apex of said die member, a second die member comprising a series-of pressing irons supported bysaid shaft and pivotally movable relative thereto to engage the flutings in said male die, and means slidably operable along said shaft to simultaneously moversa-id pressing irons into andout of engagement with said fiutings and ridges.

7. In a sheet folding machine, a conical diemember, means adapted to effect correct registry between a sheetand said die, said cone having a seriesof regularly spaced pairs of laterally reentrant substantially triangular faces defining flutings with ridges therebetween, a shaft positioned above and co-axially movable towards and away from the conical die-member, another die-member comprising a series of pressing irons seatable in the fiutings of said conical die-member, a hub mounted to slide along said shaft, said pressing irons being pivotally connected to said hub and movable relative to said shaft into registry with said flutings, means for imparting movement to said :hub to simultaneously register all of said pressing irons with said .flutings to accomplish the pleating of a blank when positioned therebetween, and means for heating the conical diemember.

GUSTAVE S. BERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED i llhe lfollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number -Name Date 1,392,605 Stevens Oct. 4, 1921 1,517,862 Ross Dec. 2, 1924 1,581,488 Lewis Apr. 20,1926 1,641,327 Earrand et al Sept. 6,192 11,684,658 Beardsley Sept. 18, 1928 1,741,884 Schmidt Dec. 31, 1929 

